ability to enlarge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ability to enlarge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the capacity or potential to increase size, scope, or extent in various contexts, such as technology, art, or personal skills. Example: "The software has the ability to enlarge images without losing quality, making it ideal for graphic designers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Some things he didn't like: — There is no ability to enlarge the text in the Web browser.

The New York Times

Their stories are small and their methods modest, but they nonetheless have an uncanny ability to enlarge your perception of the world.

The New York Times

Bloom wants to awaken an almost religious awareness of literature's ability to enlarge the spirit, and focuses on such matters as a writer's power, a character's vitality and a critic's need for gusto.

The New York Times - Books

In their infancy e-readers were adopted by an older generation that valued the devices for their convenience, portability and, in many cases, simply for their ability to enlarge text to a more legible size.

The New York Times - Books

The dihexadecane imidazolium (DHI) with two long tails has the ability to enlarge the interlayer spacing to a bigger degree compared with other imidazolium surfactants with only one long tail.

Polymer Degradation and Stability

The M8's camera software is also capable of making anyone look vaguely beautiful in seconds, with automatic "make up" modes and the ability to enlarge and enhance a subject's eyes, narrow their chin and smooth their skin – functions that would take the average user quite a bit of time in front of an image editor like Photoshop to achieve.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Simulation results indicate that such a saturation-based switching anti-windup design has the ability to significantly enlarge the domain of attraction of the closed-loop system.

Automatica

Another feature that might come in handy is the ability to easily enlarge the translated text to full-screen size.

TechCrunch

The 3D tech's ability to virtually enlarge tiny parts of the body is especially helpful for treating newborns.

TechCrunch

Scalability is defined as the ability of the system to handle growing amount of work load in a capable manner or its ability to be enlarged to accommodate that growth.

Journal of Big Data

The ability of nitric oxide to enlarge blood vessels was an important step in the development of the drug sildenafil citrate by the Pfizer Corporation, which markets it as Viagra.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing software features, use "ability to enlarge" to clearly communicate the option to increase the size of elements, such as images or text.

Common error

Avoid using "ability to enlarge" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more sophisticated synonyms such as "capacity to expand" or "potential to increase" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ability to enlarge" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the capacity or potential to increase the size or scope of something. Ludwig indicates it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ability to enlarge" is a grammatically sound noun phrase that describes the capacity to increase in size or scope. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and suitable for use in writing. While not overly formal, more sophisticated synonyms like "capacity to expand" or "potential to increase" might be preferred in academic contexts. Common usage includes describing software features, scientific properties, and abstract concepts. While common in news, science and academia, it appears less frequently in encyclopedias and formal business writing. When writing, remember to use it to describe something as possessing this capability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capacity to expand

Replaces "ability" with "capacity" and "enlarge" with "expand", focusing on the potential for growth.

potential to increase

Substitutes "ability" with "potential" and "enlarge" with "increase", highlighting the possibility of becoming larger.

capability to magnify

Replaces "enlarge" with "magnify", emphasizing the act of making something appear larger.

power to amplify

Uses "power" instead of "ability" and "amplify" instead of "enlarge", suggesting a greater force or impact in the increase.

scope for extension

Shifts the focus to "scope" and uses "extension" to replace "enlarge", indicating the possibility of broadening reach or influence.

room for augmentation

Employs "room" and "augmentation" to convey the possibility of adding to or increasing something.

facility to broaden

Uses "facility" and "broaden" to imply an ease in expanding or making something wider.

chance to upscale

Replaces the phrase with a more modern term, "upscale", indicating an increase in quality or size.

option to inflate

Substitutes "enlarge" with "inflate", suggesting an increase in size, often used metaphorically.

latitude to stretch

Uses "latitude" and "stretch" to convey the freedom or capacity to extend or expand something.

FAQs

How can I use "ability to enlarge" in a sentence?

You can use "ability to enlarge" to describe the capacity to increase the size or scope of something. For example, "The software's ability to enlarge images makes it useful for detailed analysis."

What are some alternatives to "ability to enlarge"?

Alternatives include "capacity to expand", "potential to increase", or "capability to magnify", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "ability of enlarging"?

While "ability to enlarge" is the standard and more common construction, "ability of enlarging" is less frequent and may sound awkward. It's generally better to use the "to + infinitive" form.

What is the difference between "ability to enlarge" and "feature to enlarge"?

"Ability to enlarge" describes a general capability, while "feature to enlarge" refers to a specific function or tool designed for that purpose. A software might have the ability to enlarge images through its zoom feature, which is the feature to enlarge.